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Passengers in Aburi in Akuapem South district in the Eastern region are threatening to embark on a massive demonstration over exorbitant road transport fares.
The residents are blaming the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) for unreasonable increments affecting the cost of transportation and making life unbearable.
At a press conference held in Aburi by some concerned youth, they forcefully explained that transportation fares in Aburi to any part of nearby areas are high compared to other places despite having good roads.
The youth in Aburi said, whilst a 23km road from Aburi to Madina now cost Ghc13.60, a 26.9 km road from Madina to Dodowa cost Ghc10.
The youth argued that, transport fare from Aburi to Madina shot up during the reconstruction of Tetteh Quarshie to Mamfe road two decades ago due to the diversion of the road through Kitase -Brekuso to Kwabenya.
However, drivers failed to reverse the Ghc2 additional increment as agreed with passengers after the construction of the road rather keeps increasing the fares unfairly.
This they say is worsening the plight of the people and also affecting businesses and tourism.
Fred Odei Addo Duodu, Secretary to the youth group demanded an immediate reduction in transport fares else the youth will rise.
He further stated that “it is our fervent prayer that our demands today on paper must translate into a renewed action by the transport unions to expose those unscrupulous drivers who charge exorbitantly based on their own discretion, push for bolder policies to flush out drivers who disregard the approved general pricing principle by the transport unions”.
Some opinion leaders in the community said they have made several efforts to petition the Greater Accra Regional GPRTU executives and Akuapem South District Chief Executive but the GPRTU have failed to act on their grievances.
Residents have been given a week ultimatum for the fares to be reduced else will stage massive demonstrations and subsequently expulsed recalcitrant drivers from plying to Aburi township.
